A few people are the most qualified to talk about the deep secrets behind what it would take for the Cleveland Browns to close the gap between 4-12 and that far-off planet, Super Bowl.

To name a few: Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur.

No one is more qualified AND willing to talk about it on the record than Rich Gannon.

While buzzing around Super Bowl city, Gannon found time to share a fascinating insider’s take on the topic.

His insight on Cleveland’s quarterback jumble is of special interest. After all, Gannon saw the quarterback position from every which way during a 16-year NFL career. In 2002, the year he turned 37, he was NFL MVP for a Raiders team that reached the Super Bowl.

Now, he does an NFL Radio talk show called The SIRIUS Blitz. He has analyzed numerous Browns TV games for CBS.

He is a big-time Matt Flynn expert, and he thinks it would make lots of sense for the Browns to chase the free agent.

“I do Packer preseason games (as a TV analyst), so I’ve watched this kid the last four years,” Gannon said. “You talk about a guy who could step in on Day 1 and run the offense.”

Flynn, 26, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Packers in 2007, the year the Browns spent a first-round pick on Brady Quinn. He was the backup who would have gone in last year’s Super Bowl had anything happened to Aaron Rodgers. He made a big splash in the 2011 regular-season finale when he threw for six touchdowns against the Lions.

He sees Seattle, Miami and Cleveland as the likeliest destinations for Flynn, who can be signed as early as March 13.

Wouldn’t it be risky to spend big money on a former Round 7 pick? Doesn’t his draft status speak to his limitations?

“I don’t think that has anything to do with it now,” said Gannon, a former Round 4 pick who was so misread by his original team, the Patriots, that they wanted to make him a defensive back.

“The Packers took Brian Brohm in the second round the same year. You could almost tell from the first preseason game four years ago that Flynn was going to pass Brohm in no time.”

Did every scout in the NFL whiff in allowing Flynn to tumble to Round 7?

“I don’t say it’s a draft-day whiff,” Gannon said. “Matt was a one-year starter at LSU. He was a transfer. I don’t even think he was a scholarship kid when he transferred.”

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Flynn needed a forum to prove himself, albeit without playing much after the preseason.

“I have a little bit of inside information,” Gannon said. “Mike McCarthy was my quarterback coach for four years. I’ve talked to Mike a great deal about this guy. I just know that he is ready to go.

“I just think this guy is going to be a good player. I really do.”

Gannon minimizes the fear that what happened to Kevin Kolb when he went from Eagles backup to Cardinals starter could happen to Flynn — if he picks the right team.

“If I’m (Flynn’s) agent or I’m the free-agent quarterback, I’d take a close look at what happened to Kolb,” Gannon said. “He was trained in one system, then he goes out to a new offense, a new system, and no offseason.

“If I’m Matt Flynn, I want to go somewhere where they speak the same language, same verbiage, same system ... something I can build on and grow.

“I want a coach who is going to listen to me and have some feedback ... a coaching staff that has developed good quarterbacks.

“Cleveland is a good situation. (New offensive coordinator) Brad Childress has a deep background. He and Pat worked together. ... You’ve got guys who speak the same language, guys who have had some success developing quarterbacks.”

Announcers like Gannon use preseason TV gigs to warm up for their network schedule. Given Gannon’s past with McCarthy, he has been a bit more to the Packers than an August voice.

“In Matt’s second preseason, I went in and spent a whole day with the team and the quarterbacks,” Gannon said. “I did a presentation of preparation, what the work week should look like, that sort of thing.

“Matt was very good. He asked questions. He was a good note-taker. He was into it.”

REPLACING McCOY

Gannon thinks 2011 starter Colt McCoy’s struggles were tied to issues at receiver and running back. He also sees the Browns looking to replace McCoy with a different starter.

“Do I think he’s got a chance to be a productive player in the league? I do,” Gannon said. “There’s a lot to like about his quarterback profile, his toughness, his leadership, his competitiveness, his athleticism.

“Does he have some things he has to work on? Absolutely. ... But that comes with time. My question is, does he have enough time? And, my guess is, probably not. He may have to go to the back of the line, like a lot of us did, and start over.”

Gannon acknowledges that the Browns might draft a quarterback. Robert Griffin III might be the best one they can get their hands on.

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“There’s no question he’s very athletic,” Gannon said. “He’s very smart. He can make all the throws. He has track speed, and those type of things.”

That said, Gannon couldn’t wait to get into touting Flynn. Yet, he said Flynn will be studying the Browns and other suitors as closely as they are scrutinizing him.

If Flynn is the real deal, it would be a good time for Holmgren’s presence to attract a free agent.